tessie



o. TEssI E du MOTAY. Process for Treati ng Copper Ores.

Patented Nov. 9, 1880.

.No. 234,212. Patented Nov. 9, 1880.

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N-PETER3. FNOTO-UTNOGRAPNER. WASNINGTDN, D C.

. 4 Sheets-Sheet 3. G. TESSIE du MOTAY.

Process for Treating Copper Ores.

No. 234,212. Patented Nov. 9, 1880.

NPEI'ERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAFHLR, WASHINGTON D C 4 Sheets-Sheet 4. 0. TESSIE du MOTAY. Process for Treating Copper Ores.

No. 234,212. Patented Nov.-9, 1880.

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N- PQ'ERS, PHOTD-LITHOGQAPHER. WASHINGTON, D, C.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

OYPRIEN TESSIE DU MOTAY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNUR TO EDWARD STERN, OF

SAME PLACE.

PROCESS OF TREATING COPPER ORES.

Patent No. 234,212, dated November 9, 1880.

Application filed November 18, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GYPRIEN TEssrE DU MOTAY, of the city. county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Process of Treating Copper Ores, of which the following is a full, true, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My process is especially applicable to copis per pyrites, being the double sulphides of iron and copper. These ores have hitherto been very difficult to reduce, the expense of the process being generally more than the value of the result. My process, however, is very I 5 simple and inexpensive, requiring but little fuel, and reducing the pyrites in one operation to the state of metallic copper. The manner of treating the pyrites is by forcing through them, while in a melted condition, air, steam, and a combustible gas, in a manner to be hereinafter explained.

The apparatus used in carrying out my pro cess is plainly shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a vertical section through my reducing-furnace; Fig. 2, a section through Fig. l on the line X X; Fig. 3, a section on the line Y Y through Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents a vertical section of a modified form of 0 my apparatus.

My apparatus consists, generally, in a chamher or furnace so constructed as to contain the melted ores to be treated, and to facilitate the forcing through the ores in a molten condition 3 5 of the various gases before referred to. In the form shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 it consists, generally, of a U-shaped chamber or furnace, one end being closed and the other being open for the escape of the gases, and connected with the chimney G, as shown. The chamber is divided, as shown, by a partition, B, provided with an opening, 0, at its bottom. In other words, the divided partition does not entirely separate the chamber.

Arranged to communicate with the closed portion of the chamber are three reservoirs, containing the gas, steam, and air to be used, lettered, respectively, A, B, and (J. These communicate with the furnaces by pipes at, b,

and 0, each provided with a valve. 1;, as shown. The vessel A contains a combustible gas, preferably that known as water-gas,at a suitable pressure-say, of three or four atmospheres. The vessel B contains steam, preferably superheated, and at about the same pressure. The vessel 0 contains compressed air, also at about the same pressure.

The steam used in the vessel B may be produced by the same apparatus which makes the water-gas contained in the vessel A; or the vessel B may represent a boiler preferably provided with a suitable superheating apparatus. The furnace F is also provided with a suitable supply-aperture, P, and a delivery-aperture, D. These are arranged to be properly closed by plugs or valves, as shown.

The copper pyrites, having been first melted in an apparatus suitably arranged, are caused to flow into the furnace F through the supplyopening P. The vessel containing compressed air, which air may also be heated, is put in communication, by means of the tube 0, with the closed portion of the furnacechamber. The pressure existing in this portion forces the air downward and through the melted pyrites beneath. The result of this operation is, that the sulphur oxidizes, burning with great heat, serving to still further liquefy the mass, and leaves it in the condition of mingled oxide and protoxide of iron and oxide and protoxide ofcopper. The communication with the reservoir of steam is then opened, which causes the mingled air and steam to pass through the molten mass. The result of this is the conversion of the oxide and protoxide of copper into the protoxide of copper, and the protoxide of copper, being heavier, falls to the bottom and the protoxide ofiron floats on its surface. As soon as all the sulphur has been oxidized, which is known by the circumstance that sulphurous acid is no longer formed, the supply of steam is out 01f, and the third reservoir, containing the combustible gas, is put in communication with the closed end of the furnace. This gas, mingling with the air which is being supplied through the pipe 0, burns with great intensity, and thoroughly liquefies the iron and copper contained in the furnace.

The gas used should be one containing a cer- I tain amount of hydrogen, either free or in combination with a gas, and accrtain amount of water in the condition of steam. The supplies of air and of combustible gas are so regulated that the resulting flame is a reducing-flame, the gas being in excess of the quantity which can be burned with the air. The result of this operation is. that the protoxide of copper is reduced to the condition of metallic copper; but the protoxidc of iron is not reduced, owing to the presence of the water of combustion. \Vhcn this has been thoroughly accomplished the delivery-apes ture is opened and the melted copper is allowed to flow out through the aperture 1), The melted protoxide of iron follows, and may be received in a separate receptacle, or may i be allowed to fall upon the top of the copper,

from which, when cool, it is easily separated by a blow.

Fig. 4 represents a modification, in which an annular partition divides a cylindrical rctortinto twoportious, theiuneroncbeingclosed i for the reception of the gas, steam, or air, hei forereferred to, and the outer or annular chain- 1 her being in communication with the atmosl phere by chimney G. The gas escapes from f the inner chamberthrough the annular cham- 1 her 0, and so into the atmosphere. The 0p- 0 oration is precisely similar.

I do not claim, broadly, the use of steam for the purpose of separating copper from iron, that being old in the art.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to 5 secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. The process of separating the oxides of copper and iron produced from pyrites, which consists in forcing air through them when melted, thereby reducing them to the condi- 0 2. The process of producing metallic copper 45 from copper pyrites, which consistsin forcing air and steam through the molten mass, thereby reducing it to a condition of mingled protoxide of copper and iron, and subsequently treating them with a reducing-flame contain 50 iug hydrogen and water, thereby reducing the protoxide of copper to metallic copper, sub stantially as described.

(,7. TESSIE DU MOTAY.

Witnesses:

F. SULLIVAN, WM. A. POLLOCK. 

